Adventure Scifi/Fantasy Short Story Contest!

Adventure Scifi and Fantasy Short Story Contest

It’s important to have an awfully long title for a short story contest, I think.

Entries for this Short Story Contest are now closed. Thank you to those who submitted!

You can submit your short story entry between 12:01 AM PST (PDT) February 26th to March 16th, 2018 at 9:00 PM PST (PDT).

This means you still have time!

I’m looking for talented, inspired writers to take a stab at this FREE contest to win some prizes and have their short stories included in an anthology (all proceeds from sales will be donated to a charity. In this case, I’ve chosen Compassion International) and bragging rights to all your friends and grumpy neighbors…and not grumpy neighbors…or maybe just your dog…unless you’re a cat person…fish don’t count. Ahem! Let’s get to it, shall we?

The Basics

Enter your short story (1,000 – 5,000 words) using this photo as initial inspiration

Use the contact form at the bottom of this post or the “contact” option in the menu to get started on submitting your entry.

I’ll email you back after I receive your initial email. (This should happen w/in 24 hours. If not, leave a comment below to let me know so I can check spam!) In my return email, I’ll send you a number that I’d like you to add to the cover page of your story. Please don’t add your name to the Word doc. Just the title and your number. This assigned number will help keep the judging a little more anonymous. Further instructions will be in the email, and your reply should include your Word doc. The rest of the details are below.

Important things to keep in mind:

The image above is ONLY a jumping point for tone/theme inspiration and doesn’t have to represent your characters or specific setting (although using this setting appropriately somewhere in the story would be a good idea if you can shake it).

Genres for the contest are Contemporary or Future: Adventure, Scifi, and/or Fantasy

Stories should contain no sex, gratuitous violence, or excessive swearing (If I can’t feel comfortable posting it to my blog, it probably won’t pass the judging, so keep this in mind and use your awesome writer skills!)

There are some great prizes, but I’m super excited about the guest judges.

Morgan Wylie – An award-winning author with several genres published from YA fantasy to adult paranormal romance and other things in between. Morgan published her first novel, Silent Orchids, one year after moving across the country with her family on a journey of new discovery. After an amazing three years in Nashville, TN and the release of two more books, Morgan and her family found their way back to the Northwest where they now reside. Still working everyday with great optimism, Morgan continues to embrace all things: “Mama”, wife, teacher, and mediator to the many voices and muses constantly chattering in her head… where it gets pretty loud!

Claire Banschbach – A published author of YA fantasy fiction. Her titles include The Rise of Aredor, Wildcat of Braeton, and Adela’s Curse. Claire is from west Texas and graduated from Texas Tech HSC with a degree in physical therapy. She’s a pediatric physical therapist, and when not consumed with her gainful employment, she’s spending time with her awesome big family, dreaming up new worlds, or writing her heart out.

In the possible case of a tie, the overall accuracy of grammar, spelling, and punctuation will be used as the determining factors

In the 2nd round, an impartial qualified author judge (or two) will read and rate the top TEN stories based on the same criteria.

1st, 2nd, & 3rd place entries will be chosen from the top ten based on the combined score of the second and first round scores.

FINALISTS & WINNERS ANNOUNCED:

Top Ten Finalists Announced

Monday, April 9th, 2018

Subject to change depending on amount of entries (notification will be made in a post at rachaelritchey.com if this is the case)

Announced in a post at rachaelritchey.com and each entrant placing in the top 20 will receive an email notification of their position

1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place Winners Announced

Monday, May 7th, 2018

Subject to change depending on amount of entries (notification will be made in a post at rachaelritchey.com if this is the case)

Announced in a post at rachaelritchey.com and each entrant placing 1, 2, or 3 will receive an email notification of their position

Winners have one year from the public announcement to claim their prizes. If a winner resides within the United States, they must agree to share their address with the contest holder to receive a print copy of the anthology book. The anthology book will be shipped to the winner once it has been published. An ebook will be provided in place of a print version if living outside the US or if requested.

All stories remain the intellectual property of their respective authors.

ONLY submit your own work.

Do not submit material that has already been published. Only submit previously unpublished work to this contest.

If chosen as up to the Top 20 Overall Finalist and your story is included in the anthology book, you will retain copyright to your story, but by entering this contest you give the contest holder permission and license to include your submitted entry story in the anthology. You will be given full credit for your work within.

If chosen as a Top 20 Finalist, if requested, you agree to make minor changes and corrections—including but not limited to spelling or grammar—to your work as prescribed by the contest holder before publication in the anthology book.

Contest open to published and unpublished writers!

Phew! That should be all the legal stuff out of the way. If you have questions, please feel free to contact me via CONTACT on the menu!

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Rachael Ritchey is the author of young adult fiction. Her clean but real and true-to-self writing reflects qualities of courage and hope with daring adventure and sweet romance that almost anyone can enjoy. Rachael lives in Spokane, WA with her husband, kids, and their dog named Hashtag.